coldsores Cold sores and HSV2

[Michelle96]

Help? 

I have HSV2. If the other person suffers from cold sores can I still give them HSV2? Or can I now get cold sores? I’m so confused

[mr_hopp]

It can still happen, so still be careful and use common sense like avoiding contact during outbreaks. Transmission is less likely the longer your body has had to develop antibodies, however. The strains are close enough that HSV-2 antibodies will help to protect you from HSV-1 and vice versa but it’s not full protection by any means. How long have you and your partner had your strains of herpes? 

[Michelle96]

I found out in August. My partner has had cold sores for years 

[mr_hopp]

Got it, thanks for sharing that. So for you, it’ll take around 6 months to a year to develop antibodies that will help protect you from your partner’s herpes. But no worries since following the common sense approach of avoiding the sexual stuff during outbreaks and keeping an open line of communication about prodrome symptoms should keep you from spreading it to each other.